Code in the terminal - Cortex Docs

The Cortex CLI is Cortex Code for the terminal. One binary, cortex, gives you an interactive session view, one-shot runs from your shell, and a headless mode for scripts and CI. It talks to the same Code sessions as the web and desktop apps and signs in with the same account. The full documentation lives in the CLI tab; this page is the map from Code concepts to CLI commands.

Code concepts, CLI names

In Code	In the CLI
A session on a repository	`cd` into the project and run `cortex`; the CLI reuses the workspace’s Code session id so turns continue the same session
Ask / Plan / Agent	`/mode`, or Shift+Tab to cycle Agent → Plan → Ask. `/plan` drafts a plan before writing code.
Stop	Esc — the timeline shows `× Stopped`
Cloud host	The default for the TUI and `cortex exec`
This PC / SSH	`CORTEX_COMPUTER=this_pc` or `CORTEX_COMPUTER=ssh`, with an already connected session
Approvals	Numbered prompts before consequential commands; `/permissions` sets Read-only, Smart, or Full access
Model	`/model` — Cortex Mini 1, Cortex 1, Cortex Max 1, with Low / Medium / High effort
Timeline	Tool rows — `● Shell`, `● Read`, `● Grep` — with results indented beneath

Install and first session

curl -fsSL https://software.cortex.foundation/install.sh | sh

irm https://software.cortex.foundation/install.ps1 | iex

cortex login
cd ~/code/my-project
cortex

Type what you want changed and press Enter:

> add a /healthz endpoint and cover it with a test

Cortex CLI composer with a prompt being typed, rendered in a 40 by 12 terminal — A prompt typed into the CLI composer. The footer switches to Enter:send · Alt+Enter:newline while you type.

Details: Install, Sign in, CLI quickstart.

One-shot and headless

cortex run "explain the release process"
cortex exec --auto read-only --git-diff "review my uncommitted changes"

cortex run streams a formatted answer into your shell and understands sessions. cortex exec is for CI: autonomy levels, JSON output, turn and time limits. See Headless runs.

What the CLI is — and is not

The CLI does	The CLI does not
Drive Code sessions from a terminal	Run the model on your laptop
Work in a project directory	Replace Cortex Chat
Offer This PC and SSH	Put those hosts in the browser
Extend with MCP servers, skills, agents, hooks, plugins	Manage Bot or Design

CLI overview — the full tab.
Code on desktop — the same hosts in the desktop app.

⌘I

​Code concepts, CLI names

​Install and first session

​One-shot and headless

​What the CLI is — and is not

​Next

Code concepts, CLI names

Install and first session

One-shot and headless

What the CLI is — and is not

Next